Mussel-Inspired PEDOT-Incorporated Gelatin-Based Conductive Hydrogel with Flexibility and Electroactivity to Accelerate Wound Healing In Vitro

Chronic wounds are associated with a metabolically imbalancedphysiologicalmicroenvironment. However, conventional wound dressings are inadequatefor treating chronic wounds due to their weak bioactivity. Electroactivewound dressings are essential for modulating a myriad of biologicalprocesses, particularly antioxidant activity and cell migration. Herein,we designed a conductive hydrogel with flexible, biodegradable, andelectroactive properties using a mussel-inspired method. This conductivehydrogel was prepared by inducing poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)(PEDOT) in situ polymerization in the Hofmeister effect-assisted polydopamine-functionalizedgelatin hydrogel (Gel-PDA/PEDOT). The hydrogel demonstrated robustmechanical properties with compressive and tensile strengths of 3.8and 0.13 MPa, respectively, and a conductivity of 68.7 S/m. The additionof PDA and PEDOT to the Gel hydrogel endowed the hydrogel with exceptionalantioxidant properties to maintain an intracellular redox balance.Additionally, the Gel-PDA/PEDOT hydrogel, which had favorable biocompatibility,significantly increased the migration and proliferation of fibroblastsdue to its electroactive properties. A cell migration experiment wasperformed to assess whether the flexible and electroactive Gel-PDA/PEDOThydrogel may be a promising wound dressing in skin wound regeneration.These findings provide a strategy for fabricating a multifunctionalhydrogel with potential application in bioelectronics and wound dressings.